NO.047

APPOINTMENT OF ACTING ACCC CHAIRMAN

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Graeme Samuel AO to act as Chairman

of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) from 1 July 2003

for a period of 12 months.

The position of Chairman will become vacant on 30 June, when Professor Allan

Fels AO resigns to become Foundation Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School

of Government. I again acknowledge the great contribution to public service

made by Professor Fels and pay tribute to his tireless efforts, energy and commitment.

The Commonwealth has previously sought nominations from the States and Territories

for persons suitable for appointment as Chairman of the ACCC. Mr Samuel was

supported by four States and Territories. In addition he is supported by the

Commonwealth. No other candidate received significant support.

Mr Samuel’s extensive knowledge of and experience in competition law, which

includes serving as President of the National Competition Council, clearly makes

him highly qualified for the position. It also makes him suitable to act as

Chairman to fill the vacancy to be created by the departure of Professor Fels.

Within the next 12 months I will write to the States and Territories seeking

their support for the permanent appointment of Mr Samuel as Chairman and Ms

Louise Sylvan, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Consumers’ Association,

as Deputy Chairperson of the ACCC.

Mr Samuel and Ms Sylvan would jointly bring a balanced understanding of competition,

business and consumer issues that would best ensure the ability of the ACCC

to carry out its function to promote competition and protect consumers throughout

Australia.

Mr Samuel will resign from the National Competition Council before taking up

the position of ACCC Chairman. Dr Wendy Craik, a current Councillor of the NCC,

will be appointed to act as President from 1 July until 30 November 2003 when

the terms of all existing NCC Councillors expire. Before that time the States

and Territories will be invited to make nominations for membership of the NCC,

including the position of President.

Background

Mr Samuel was appointed to the National Competition Council in 1995 and has

been the NCC’s President since 1997. He was formerly a partner of Melbourne

law firm Phillips Fox & Masel and an executive director of Macquarie Bank

and is a former President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1998.

This appointment maintains at 18 the number of persons appointed to the ACCC.

The full-time members from 1 July will be:

Acting Chairman:  Mr Graeme Samuel AO.

Full-time members:  Mr Sitesh Bhojani, Mr Ross Jones, Ms Jennifer McNeill,

Mr John Martin and Mr Ed Willett.

CANBERRA

28 May 2003

Contact: Niki Savva

02 6277 7340